Journalist Tom Peeters Visits the Amari Valley
Last week, on March 31st , we visited the Amari Valley with Belgian journalist Tom Peeters, who writes for Flanders’ leading newspaper, “Het Laatste Nieuws.” Tom, in collaboration with photographer Merilin Mandel, is set to write a travel feature on hiking in Crete during the off-season.
His story depicts a portrait of Crete that is experienced at a leisurely pace, far from the all-inclusive resorts, following historic trails through mountainous landscapes, orange groves, and olive groves, as well as through brief encounters with the local people.
Psiloritis Geopark, with the assistance of its collaborator Chara Papailiou and at the urging of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) in Benelux, highlighted the unspoiled beauty of the Amari landscape, its cultural heritage through its picturesque villages, as well as the annual efforts to revive traditions by the Municipality of Amari through the Amari Green Festival.
Our guests were thrilled by the lush green landscape that greeted them—a sight less familiar than the yellow-and-blue hues of the imposing cliffs, the fields, and the calm sea of summer in Crete.
We visited unique areas of blossoming nature from the west to the south, such as the protected wetland of Amari Dam Reservoir, the Platania Gorge on a rainy morning, as well as picturesque villages in the municipality, with the aim of gaining a comprehensive view of the valley.
With a view of the Libyan Sea, we also visited the southeastern side of Amari in the village of Apodoulou, where Mrs. Evgenia treated us to some of her best meals at the “Ambadia” café. But northwestern Amari also offered us rich sights with hiking and culinary suggestions in the areas of Meronas and Patsos.
We would like to thank the Holy Monastery of Asomaton for their hospitality, as well as the “Research and Livestock Development Network of the Asomaton School” for highlighting their support of the island’s goat and sheep farming and the production of competitive, high-quality traditional products.
Last but not least, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Municipality of Amari, the Meronas Cultural Association, and the Kourkoulou Winery for their contribution to promoting the region.
